New FAU coach Pelini has a need for speed

The Owls are practicing as fast as anyone in the nation after only two days.

August 2, 2012|By Dieter Kurtenbach, Sun Sentinel

BOCA RATON — FAU's second preseason practice Thursday morning was even more grueling and intense than the first practice the day before, leaving players gasping for air and pleading for water.

Carl Pelini and the FAU coaches cranked up an already fast practice tempo on day two, proving to any lingering doubters that the new staff's creed of speed will not be a fading dogma.

The team is yet to put on full pads, but FAU's coaches and team leaders are already seeing overall squad improvement.

Past FAU offenses would use the full 25 seconds of the game clock. It was a slow, plodding offense that carried many positive tenets, but it did no favors for the defense in game preparation.

After practicing against the calculated pro-set offense during the week, safety Demetruis Williamson said that the Owls would often be flustered by the speed of their weekend opponents. After two practices, he already knows that won't be the case in 2012.

"It's not designed to be easy," Williamson said of the practices. "We're all adjusting to the high pace that the coaches are requiring of us. I think it's going to help us in games, because a few times last year it was like 'these offenses go fast.' ''

Coaches upped the pace by a second Thursday. On average, the Owls had a snap every 12 seconds. That's the same rate as the Oregon Ducks — who are widely considered to be the fastest team in the nation — fire off in practice and in games.

"Speed is definitely a quality that we all have and that we can use for our advantage," Williamson said. "We have to play fast."

A rigorous voluntary offseason workout program has been the chief contributor to FAU's so-far smooth transition to the fast pace. Pelini has exalted the value of the FAU strength and conditioning program since his hiring, and any players who didn't heed the warning are finding themselves significantly behind after only two days.

Even those who were stellar in the summer are finding the adjustment to on-field play, even without pads, jarring. Running wind sprints and lifting weights isn't football.

"You can get into the best shape as you can get, but you can't simulate what's going on," FAU strength and conditioning coach Chuck Lobe said after practice. "The guys who paid the price this offseason have been doing a really good job.

"Each day, we're going to build. We're going to ramp it up just a little bit."

Senior linebacker David Hinds is going into his third defensive system. His first transition was easy, at least easy compared to this one.

The senior leader said the team's success will be dictated by its ability to make smart, quick decisions when tired, and concentrating on responsibilities, alignments and assignments.

Lobe said he wishes he could teach the ability to perform even when tired, but that's a self-taught skill. But with starting positions open everywhere, players can learn it or find themselves on the bench.

"Thinking when you're tired is different. Read a book running 100 miles per hour and you'll forget what you read," Lobe said. "When you're tired, you make mistakes. You have to make sure you can handle all the new things that are being put on you. It's a lot for the guys to absorb and get done. I think they're handling it pretty well."